The last several years, I’ve emailed the editors and asked if they can pass along pitching tips, but I never got a response.
Publicity Hound Nancy Juetten asked me yesterday if I know the best way she should pitch her client, 66-year-old Alice Cunningham, co-owner of Olympic Hot Tub Company in Pugent Sound, Washington.
We both spent a few minutes Googling and here’s what we found:
- Five pitching tips from an AARP editor, courtesy of Bulldog Reporter newsletter and reprinted in Nancy Schwartz’s Getting Attention! blog.
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Writers guidelines for freelancers at the AARP website.
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Tips at the AARP website on how to write a letter to the editor.
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An article at the Media Bistro website that includes pitching tips for freelancers. You’ll have to subscribe to this service to access the entire article. (I subscribed. Well worth the price.)
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An entry form you can use to nominate yourself to be a model for the magazine.
Based on all of the above, it sounds like the best way to pitch a story is to contact one of the freelancers who writes for the magazine.
Do any of you have other success stories to share about how you or your PR client got into AARP?
Hi Joan,
This is not a tip but some whining about how AARP completely blew me off when I queried them exactly like they want to be queried.
I’m an excellent example of someone who used menopause as a springboard to writing success. I put those sleepless nights and hormonal swings to fabulous use by taking up creative writing at the age of 50. By 54 I had dozens of articles and some short stories published, and a two-book contract with Kensington Publishing. My first novel, THE DOWRY BRIDE, is ready for release in Sept. Romantic Times has an interview and feature on me for their Sept issue. Tell me if that’s not a good story for AARP! I just turned 56 and I’m psyched about marketing my debut fiction book. Wish I had more money to hire a great publicist!
I queried AARP months ago. They sent me a polite reply about getting back to me but they never did. Since I’m not a gorgeous celebrity, I guess I don’t qualify for a response.
Now that I’ve got it out of my system by complaining to you, I feel much better. I love your PR tips and use your advice often. Thank you.
Regards,
Shobhan Bantwal
http://www.shobhanbantwal.com
THE DOWRY BRIDE – Release Sept 2007
Fiction brimming with India’s colors & spices!
Found these PR ideas that could be used to hypnotize journalist faster than a Harry Potter spell:
http://strivepr.com/wordpress/2007/03/04/top-7-leads-to-hook-readers/#comment-7297
Shobhan, don’t assume that just because AARP hasn’t responded yet, that they’ve blown you off. I’ve heard of cases where Publicity Hounds pitch a magazine and an editor bites a full two years after the original pitch!
How does this happen? Your pitch goes into a “slow news week” file and an editor pulls it out two years later.
So always be ready for that call from an editor or freelance writer. And remember the idea that you pitched.